Louis Roederer Hommage à Camille Coteaux Champenois Rouge 2020

Camille was the ingenious widow at the helm of Louis Roederer from 1932 to 1975, successfully steering it through all the important events of that time. Camille had many strong cards up her sleeve: wines from the finest Champagne terroirs, a collection of crus that her husband Léon had shrewdly acquired after the phylloxera crisis. These exceptional plots in Aÿ, Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ and Cumières are the treasure troves and foundations of Louis Roederer’s unique style. Their still red and white wines are an authentic expression of the Champagne terroirs that Camille held so dear.

Frédéric Rouzaud wanted to pay homage to the great-grandmother whose playful spirit he had so admired. He therefore decided to dedicate this collection of single-vineyard still wines to Camille, perpetuating the Champagne House’s inventive spirit.

This new collection is the result of a twofold motion; a glance backwards, to the past, in homage to ancestor Camille; and a gesture to the future, to that which Nature offers and to receive it in order to render it even more beautiful. By working closely with the vines, using solar viticulture and bespoke vinification, they are able to reveal a new dimension hidden in their champagne terroirs.

The team ast Louis Roederer identified a 43-ares plot lying in the Charmont lieu-dit in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. The idea of creating a 100% Pinot Noir from a sunny terroir where the vines grow in direct sunlight came completely naturally. They were seeking a mature wine, a wine that pushes back the boundaries of the usual winegrowing practice in Champagne, illustrating another way of approaching this terroir. After the harvest, the grapes are simply left to infuse. The juices are then transferred to French oak barrels where they continue to integrate and become more refined over the ensuing year. The result is a very intricate and delicately-perfumed Pinot Noir with a touch of salinity, a lively, sappy backbone and a precise texture.

The 2020 season followed a similar trajectory to that of 2019: a mild, wet winter followed by a dry summer with several heatwaves, admittedly less extreme than in 2019, but which had an impact on the vines. Fortunately, a rather dull month of June brought us a wet interlude between two dry periods. Despite the hot spells and the impression of constant sunshine, the 2020 campaign ended up with relatively normal temperatures and sunshine levels. These continental weather conditions, but with “normal” annual averages, allowed us to produce ripe and well balanced wines!

Garnet red hue with bright tints. Elegant, concentrated Pinot noir bouquet: sweet red fruit (blood orange), forest fruit and peonies. Then come spices (cocoa bean) and dried leaves accompanied by smoky, bacon-like notes. A magical and complex nose of fresh, ripe Pinot noir. The palate is velvety smooth with fresh red fruit and a soft and silky texture with noticeable but round, creamy tannins. The typical freshness of the Champagne region has made the tannins fairly vertical but these are nicely coated by the juicy, velvety texture which lends them a unique character: firm but not austere and sappy with a saline, umami finish. Magical and complex nose of fresh, ripe Pinot noir.

The characteristic Champagne limestone freshness is palpable and gives the wine a power that is bright yet delicate, saline whilst also velvety smooth. - Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Cellar Master

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - France
Region - Coteaux Champenois
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.1%